Ever feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with normal healthy food preparations during the holidays? Do you feel guilt because you’ve indulged in too many Christmas goodies?
I wrote my thoughts on the matter over at Deal Moon. Head on over and see what you think…
Laura,
I loved that encouragement! I have only recently began eating in a traditional foods way. My whole life has consisted of white flour, white sugar and junk. My health and weight reflect that. I have gotten overwhelmed with the mentality “I have to make everything from scratch all the time” It’s exhausting esp. right now with the holidays and all the parties. I needed a reminder to loosen up and relax! Thanks. It really will be ok if I’m not perfect lol!
I really like the part about picking only things that are REALLY yummy. That tip really helps when there are Christmas parties with all of those goodies.
I’m overwhelmed at this very moment, too. I have a christmas party I’m going to tonight, and I was planning (budgeted, shopped for) on making cookies. Well, my oven stopped working. The top of the stove still works. But not the oven. So I had to go spend extra money to get something premade and prepackaged and gross. Thankfully I don’t HAVE to eat any of it. Haha. But I have to make another meal, because the one I premade for the boys while I’m gone, needs to be heated in the oven!!! Ugh!
Love your writing – wish I could be a little more like you!
This just makes so much sense!
I too am overwhelmed. My dr. has me on a no gluten, sugar diet, suspecting it is what causes me to break out and look like a meth addict. I think she is right. However, whether it’s church, friends or even here at home, the holiday treats are escruciatingly hard to abstain from. I find myself making little concessions, and then I do indeed break out.
Above all, it feels inconvenient and a party pooper of sorts for others. They inevitably notice I have basically meat and veggies on my plate at which point I explain. There’s this worldly mindset to just say ‘forget it, I’m going to just pig out.’ We went to PF changs on Sunday and out of embarrasment, I just ordered regular food. My face was sore for 2 days. Why does it seem that the majority of people can eat anything and at most, get a little chubby. While some of us, not just for health needs but because we really do want to be healthy, feel like the weirdos. As if I’m a conspiracy theorist on food.
((((Hugs)))) I have been where you are, to the point of always bringing
and eating my own food. My face was so bad that I was constantly asked if
I was sunburned! After a year of an extremely strict diet, I was
able to reintroduce most food; I now only have to avoid peanuts
and milk, and my excema is only mild, with occasional flare ups.
Hang in there! It’s worth it, and it might not be forever :-)
Laura,
My son’s birthday is on Monday too. As if we weren’t busy enough, huh? I’m doing one worse than you though, and buying Papa John’s pizza for his party (gasp). I am making him a faint-from-deliciousness homemade ice cream cake (shaped like a Lego) for his party though. Tell me I’m not crazy… :) Have a wonderful Christmas.
I really adore baking Christmas cookies, and I love making candy and fudge. And while we eat well the rest of the year, at Christmas time I bake. And I bake. And I bake. This year I was commissioned (and compensated) to bake 22 dozen cookies, 2 kinds of fudge, and a no-bake treat for one of our neighbors. I have also made small pans of fudge and several kinds of cookies for our family. But here’s why I feel okay about all of that: we aren’t eating MOST of it. I’m giving it as gifts (plus the ginormous amount that I have made/am still making for pay) and while we eat a little bit of it, I’m not tempted to overindulge. And I get to put smiles on a lot of faces, including our neighbors, family, friends, the postman, the leasing office workers, and the maintenance guys.
When January rolls around I will use up the dregs of white flour by making playdough for my son, and the white sugar I will make into exfoliating body scrubs. And I will be cookied out until next December.
Laura, the party went great, and the entire time I was thinking about what you said! I had one tiny little dessert, and it wasn’t that great so I didn’t eat it all! But I did have some “splenda” sweetened tea. It was not good either. Lol. But the rest of the food was yummy, but probably not the best!!! Thanks for your encouragement!
Thanks for such a timely post. I too am extremely overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done and find myself compromise choices. I appreciate your honesty. Maybe I can let go of some of my guilt.